I love the snow.  Correction.  I USED to love the snow.  Right now snow and I, we have a kinda love hate relationship.

We’ve had 3 storms in 2 weeks, and tonight is our 4th.  6inches, 6 inches, 29 flippin inches, and now somewhere between 10-20 inches.  The snowflakes are huge and falling, but they are not pretty to me.  Instead, every one is currently another one that we will have to shovel.  It may in fact be the on that pushes the tree over, or collapses the roof.  Stupid flakes. 

It’s a rather morbid Debbie Downer though process, I realize.  And that’s when it occured to me.  Let Go and Let God.  Seriously.  I mean, sure we’ll shovel the deck and the sidewalk and drip the water and do what we can, but at the end of the day if the trees’a comin down, it’s coming down.  You’re certainly not going to see my fool butt up in that tree shaking it off (though I totally took a broom to it -bwahaha)  At the end of the day, it will all work out one way or another. 

And so with that, I’ll just enjoy power while we have it.  I can’t say that my relationship with Mother Nature isn’t brusied at the moment, but for now I’ll do my best to enjoy the snow…you know, the ones that are going to accumulate and cause me to shovel another 3 hours…..oops.  Well, baby steps.

Nothing earthshattering mind you; no felony records or hidden children.  But still, random interesting little tid bits about yours truely.  Today I thought I’d share a few here, just for.

I’m obssesed with ballet…or should I say ballet toe shoes.  Oh yes, the en pointe jobbies.  Just look at my outfit today.  I have on a ballet inspired top in a power pink (ballet shoe color) and a pair of brown ballet flats, complete with squared off toe to even more resemble a real-life ballet shoe.  Oh I never thought I could actually BE a ballerina…I’m not that naive. I’m about as graceful as a baby girraffe…and trust me when I say they aren’t.  But oh how I love the way a point shoe looks, or the like pink of the satin, or the delicacy of the tulle tu-tu.  In fact, I prefer the short little tu tu’s typically worn by the “lesser” parts to the long flowy dresses of the prima ballerinas.    One time, my neighbor let me try on her pointe shoes.  Aside from the fact that, oh, I’m not a ballerina, they were a solid 2-3 sizes too small.  But I didn’t care.  And I get up en pointe for about 2.7 seconds, which was followed by the world’s worst charlie horse. 

But I would do it again.

You should also know that my worst fear is drowning.  Oh sure the whole ‘no oxegyn’ part is bad, but I’m more concerend with the FISH.  What if I swallow one or something starts nibbling at my toes while I’m busy dying? 

Recently I was chatting with a dear friend of mine about the first night we met.  She told me that when I walked into the room she remembers thinking how confident and self-assured I looked.  I remember that night too…I remember not knowing anyone save the friend who invited me but trying to branch out.  I remember “faking it” till I “made it”.  And ironically I remember thinking how stunning she was.  Funny how that works. 

And you know what else, it was the Best compliment EVER.

I tend to take on the accents, mannerisms and ‘ticks’ of people I’m talking too.  According to Oprah it’s b/c I’m good at relating to people.  According to me though, I spoke wiht a Southern accent, then a Midwestern, then South Centeral and I’m pretty sure there was an Irish Brouge thrown in there all just between 2 and 4pm.

My memory is heavily connected with my sense of taste/smell.  Sometimes Stargazer lillies stop me in my tracks.  They used to be my favorite, but since I sat next to a bouqet at my uncle’s funeral years ago, it’s hit or miss these days.  I kissed a boy in college whose scent was a mix of rum and Pepsi (Pepsi not Coke), skoal and CK1.  I dated another boy who wore Versace’s Blue Jeans cologne.  After we broke up I made the boy in front of me in math class move when he came in wearing it one day. (why I didn’t move I’ll never know).  The boy however, has several scents.  He is “the boy” afterall, so he gets multiples like that.  Like the Burt’s Bee Balm, or the smell of his skin like soap, or Bourbon…though that last one usually doesn’t qualify as a “good” smell. 

When I’m alone in the car, I like to turn on Broadway showtunes (my current fav is Wicked) and imagine I’m on the stage somewhere and belt it out.   Usually it’s pretty detailed (and random).  Like once recently on a particularly bad traffic day I imagined that the Ole Miss Marching Band was playing “Defying Gravity” and they had two women singing the appropriate parts, but then the one playing Elphaba got sick and they needed a stand in at the last min.  Since my She She works for the Alumni Association she told them they should have me do it, and of course I had to fill in and save the day!  So I get up on the riser and belt my heart out! 

Yea, I’m a dork.  I know.

So there you have it…you know me a little better know.  Aren’tcha glad?

Dear JJill,

Over the past year plus, I’ve taken a special focus on trying to find “my style”.  I’m still working on it, but from what I can gather I lean towards clean, flowing lines.  You can imagine then my joy when I discovered you in all your clean flowing line goodness.  YOu can imagine my extreme happiness when I found that you carry talls. And now that I’ve hit 32, (God that sounds old to write) I feel that I’m at the beginning stages of being able to wear your sundries…or at least I”m not waiting any longer and will just resign myself to dressing over my age.  Ehh, why stop now right?

Ahem, I digress.

As you know by now, my sweet She She gifted to me a lovely gift card to your fine establishment for Christmas.  Finally those beautiful dark indigo trouser jeans would be mine, all mine!  But your sizing is….odd, and I found that according to you your straight size tall jeans would not fit, and therefore I would have to settle for women’s.  Odd I tell you, not that Christmas has caused me to eat like a heifer or anything.  But whatevs.  Because you are the amazing store that you are, even your regular length pants will work.  Be still my heart!  So I placed my order, and I waited.

And waited.

And Waited.

At long last they arrived!  And as I tried them on I discovered something so horrific, so tragic, so utterly unspeakable…..

There was elastic in the waist.

So maybe I’m not ready to be THAT old just yet.

Sincerely,

Me

PS-your pants were too big anyway, so neah!

Most people wrote these guys of posts two days ago, but let’s face it I’m not most people.  Still, I wanted to share my favorite memories of 2009 month-by-month. 

January brought me to a “little known show” that is the biggest consumer technology tradeshow *ahem*.  Normally I go onsite as a second, but given the birth of my counterpart’s son, I was left in charge.  It was a doozy, I learned a lot, was overly hard on myself and my skills, and will forever hold it as a mark of pride that I was able to pull it off (with a LOT of help from friends!)

February was the month of love.  Honestly there was nothing overly remarkable, but on Valentine’s night the boy made dinner for us.  It was sweet and nice.  Our (young) neighbors that are on the other side of our duplex however had a party complete with beer keg and loud music.  I felt old, and I was fine with it.

March we finally got our living room painted, and the house started to become a home.  It was also the month of our company meeting and one of THE worst hangovers known to man.

April was the month that the boy’s Mamaw passed.  It was the first death that we experienced as a couple, and odd as it may sound it’s an extremely touching memory for me.  One in which my new family fully embraced me as one of their own, and I was able to be the strong one.  It also meant that while I had to miss J’s surprise party, we were able to celebrate the twin’s 2nd birthday in person.  I love those babies I do.

May  was a busy month but oh what a fun one!  My sister and brother-in-law came to visit.  It was the week in which we became known as the neighbors that sit on their front porch until all hours drinking beer and having long chats about nothing and everything.

June took me away from the boy for 10 days, the longest we’ve been apart since we first started dating and I had to be in San Diego for a month.  June took me to Florida, the most humid state on the planet forcing me to pour pounds of hairspray into my head in a futile attempt to keep it in check while I worked one of the most unique show’s I’ve had the privelage of working with.  Wrangling lost children, vomit calls, protestors and dancing in the asiles during GS load in. 

July brought me home to my sweet husband and straight into the 4th of July festivities, including tubin’ which I once again survived.  Those that know me know I have an unrational fear of fish.  I choose to believe that the Shennandoah has none (though next year I may wear a helmet in case I can’t avoid the rapids again).  More importantly, July brought us our pupper Archie.  I love him to bits, kibbles and bits.  It was also very quickly that we found out how scary “parenthood” can be as his kennel cough escalated at rapid pace to pnemonia.  Scared the bejesus outta me.  The stress, however, did make me loose 7 lbs (which I promptly gained back) so you gotta take the good with the bad I say

August brought our one year anniversary, which we celebrated in Boston.  It was hottern’ blazes, but we had a good time.  I, ever able to injure myself in unique ways, arrived home with an ankle sprain due to walking too many miles in my beloved flops.

September will forever be the month of the PJ fiasco.  I honestly don’t remember the last time I laughed that hard (especially on someone’s kitchen floor) and will remain true to the argument that “simplicity” patterns aren’t so simple.

October we would rather forget….so we will.  HA!  October was crazy busy with work, and though in the first part I stuck to my “8 hours a day” schedule, that quickly went by the wayside.  As it did, the boy helped me see even more just how important it is to take some time to yourself.

November gave me my final show of the year, with a wonderful client.  And Thank God too b/c I was t-i-r-e-d!  I also was able to visit with my aunt and uncle while out there, which was really a treat.  November also took us to Georgia for Thanksgiving, and the puppers first long car ride with us.  Little did we know how important this preparation would be.  I got to shop on Black Friday with my mom and had so much fun with her that I was sad it had to end.

December will forever go down in history as the trip from hell   Those that read my Facebook page already know about our adventure on 81 South complete with National Guard rescue, flat tire, tornado and a wirlwind of fun and love with family and friends (for the record I will forever be indebted to Comfort Inns).  One day I’ll write about it all and post it here….but for now it’s just one of those memories that you kinda have to laugh at.  It also is (technically still is) the longest vacation I’ve ever been able to take.  16 whole days!  There were bets about how long it would take until I got bored.  Guess what people?  Didn’t happen.

New Year’s was spent with friends in a low-key perfect sorta way.  We said goodbye to 2009, and though I know that for others it was a much worse year, I cannot lie.  I’m not exactly sad to see it go.  It was a long tough year in many ways.  But, I’m thankful for what it was, and hopeful for 2010. 

Here’s to a fresh start.

So a little bit of this, a little bit of that.

It’s been a crazy week…eer, couple weeks.  I leave for my solar client’s show in less than 1 week from today.  So yea, bananas.

But I’m thankful.  Ohhh am I thankful.

I’m thankful that I got to spend time with family last weekend.  Oh my sweet niece and nephew, they are such joy.  I love love love spending time with my family.  It is like food for my soul…and I was starved.

I’m grateful for the challenges of the past few weeks.  I realize that may sound odd, but these past few weeks may have pushed me hard, but with the support of my friends and family I haven’t let it shrink me, but expand.

I’m thankful for self evaluation and patience.  I pretty well stink at the ‘patience’ part, but the self evaluation has been helping me (slowly) realize when I loose my patience so that I can correct myself sooner rather than later.

I’m also thankful for humility.  I have even LESS of that in some respects, but with that whole self evaluation and practicing humility I’m able to be a better person/wife/friend/daughter.

I’m thankful that it’s just me and my cat tonight…it’s a nice chnage to just be able to relax quietly.

Meanwhile, I leave in less than a week.  Did I already mention that?  I’ve been working hard, but the boy has been wonderfully supportive.  I was afraid that he’d be angry with me for working so late, but his response was blessedly more concerned about my wellbeing.

I’ve been pushed and challenged, but it’s been good.  Dare I say I’m even enjoying myself?  Not that I’d want it to be perminently this crazy, but I suppose one of the things I’ve missed is a “busy time” that’s once a year, a cycle.  Mine is never ending, and so sometimes it’s a consistent stress level of 8 with no (or few) brakes.

But, I’ve been practicing some work life balance…so we’ll see.  And though I miss my friends and hanging out, I know that this is only temporary.

And now, it’s bedtime….sleepy sleepy girlie I am.  Sweet dreams everyone

Today I am thankful for:

1.) Sleep.  Sweet, uninterupted sleep.  It’s ironic that I had to go onsite to get it, but I’m so glad it’s got

2.) My sweet pupper, and so very thankful that the new meds are kicking pnemonia’s butt!!  Take that sickies!

3.) So very thankful for my Vet Dr. Hall who is just a rockstar.  He is so patient with me, and he actually cares.  As the boy said, he took one look at Archie and how sick he was and took on the challenge with gusto!

4.) My husband.  I’m often thankful for him but espeically this first week with Archie boy.  I know there was some talk about if I’d be on my own (which is for a later post) but let me just be the first to tell you how amazing he has been. 

5.) My cat Tea.  Just b/c she’s been so good at adjusting bless her little heart.

ARCHIE NEWS

So our boy went from a bad case of Kennel cough to pnemonia.  Thank goodness we took him back to the vet “just in case” (aka b/c I’m an OCD worrier who wanted to make sure he was on the mend before leaving for Tucson) only to find out that his temp had gone back up (though not quite as high) and he had pnemonia.  No Good.  Dr. Hall gave us a different antibiotic plus something to help with lung expansion, and kept him on the cough supressant. 

According to the boy, our little guy is on the mend now even going so far as to say he’s a bit “hyper”, and apparently a pig since he ate 2 bowls of dinner   Then the next thought entered my mind.  Everyone has been telling us that we haven’t seen the “real Archie” b/c A.) he’s sick and B.) he hasn’t settled in yet.  So last night I also asked Matt if he was “fun hyper” or “oh holy crap hyper”.  Apparently he hasn’t suddenly turned into Satan’s dog so we’re still good.

Meanwhile…
I’m in Tucson for the week with one of my group’s.  It’s blessedly small and easy to work with and is the perfect summer relief.  It’s hot here, but it’s Arizona so what do you expect?  The JW Marriott Starpass is breathtaking and has the signature JW service, so I cannot complain.  Plus they have a kick butt terrace with firepits and the yummiest margaritas!  Oh, and did I mention that every day at 5:30pm they have a tequila toast?  Oh yea

On other fronts, my friend Erin is due on July 22nd and is anxiously awaiting the baby’s “evacuation of it’s incubator” (she’s a scientist, can you tell? )  As am I–Erin and I don’t talk or see eachother nearly enough, but she will forever hold a very special place in my heart and I am so excited for them.  Plus, one the kid gets here I’ll know what the monogram needs to be.

My work friend Jenny is also onsite this week in Denver, and then she head’s off to Italy and London to bring her sweet boyfriend home perminently!  Brett’s been living and working in London and will finally be residing back in the States, now going to get his MBA at UVA.  While I’m terribly excited for them, Jenny will be leaving our office to work from C’Ville.  It’s of course the best decision for them, but I’ll miss her terribly.  However, we’re alreayd wroking on plans for the boy and I to come down for a football game-SWEET!

On a less than stellar note, my dear friend Andi’s uncle finally passed this morning.  So (as she says) if you’re the praying type I know they would welcome the prayers.

Otherwise I’m trying to get some work done today.  It’s hard to believe that at this show last year I was counting down the days until the wedding…crazy wild.

We noticed is was coughing like he had a hairball, and when I asked someone about it from the rescue they said casually that it was probably kennel cough, that it was very common, and that the vet could take care of it with no problem.  We were plesantly surprised that they had already trimmed him, so we didn’t need the grooming.  Instead we made an appt for Sat to get the cough cleared up and have a once over.

Unforutantly 24 hours later the cough had gone from bad to terrible, and by 11pm he was hacking in 10-15 mins fits with only a few mins of calm.  We made the decision to go ahead and head to the emergency vet.  Now, let me say that it’s really hard to tell the vet if your dog is “acting normal” when you’ve only know him 24 hours.  I would also like to tell all those vets and vet techs out there that when you have new dog owners, DON’T SCARE THEM.  Let’s not tell them that your dog “probably has parasites, b/c all shelter dogs do”.  Or to utter the words “assuming he makes it through”.  Oy. 

 Anyway, turns out we had/have one VERY sick pupper.  He had 104.2 temp, a horrible case of kennel cough, possibly the puppy flu (not to be confused with the swine flu) and just generally was in bad shape.  I guess that I had made some assumptions that since he was fostered and so wanted and not in the “system” that long that he would be in tip top shape.  Let’s not forget though that he’s still a rescue dog, and he still traveled 8-12 hours in a hot van with 40 other dogs who had God only knows what.  There was some discussion about hospitalizing him, but since he had clear lung function and we didn’t want him staying in yet another strange place under quarantine we brought him home with with a cough suppresant and antibiotic (assuming it’s bacterial and not viral).

As of tonight it’s been a long few days.  I finally broke down in tears yesterday. His cough isn’t as violent, and we got his fever down, but he can’t move without coughing so we just try to keep him VEEERY still and quiet.    I got to speak to my normal vet today whom I adore, and we decided to go ahead and bring him in tomorrow night to make sure we’re on the right track with him.  Plus, I’ll just feel so much better getting his opinion and invovlement.  Seriously-one of the BEST vets ever.

The whole dog ownership thing has been eye opening.  I had no idea I’d get so hooked so quickly.  Or how many dog lovers are out there.  It’s made me realize just how much I worry, over random stuff (to really truly see it) and how often I start a sentence with the words “I’m worried about” or “I’m concerned with”.  I’ve often felt ridiculous in the last 72 hours over how freaked out I am, or worried or nervous, and how in the WORLD will I ever deal with having a baby?!  I know that one day I’ll look back and it’ll be fine, but that doesn’t change the fact these feelings I have are real.

I’ve also learned that there are some amazingly supportive people around me.  I cannot ever express my appreciation for all of the kind, supportive words and the time and energy people have exerted trying to help the boy and I figure this out and ease my concerns.  Truly it’s such a blessing.

So for now, we’ll rest on the couch, hope to get some sleep, and hope that Dr. Hall has some good news for us going forward.

I entered the month of May as I do most things when there is a lot to accomplish, head down and ready to charge.  But I also want to enjoy the fun times, of which there were a lot to be had.  I reconcilled myself to knowing that May 4-June 4 would just basically be a whirlwind and God willing I would enjoy the ride. 

And so I present to you 30 lessons in 30 days…or somwhere around there.

1. Threatening a union worker is never smart, and usually leads to the head union guy coming to the planner (yours truly) to put everyone in “timeout”.
2. Even when it rains fun can be had.  Who says you can’t ride on an open top tour bus in a drizzle?
3. South Street is MUCH farther from the Marriott than it looks when walking back after a long day and a full belly.  That requires stopping along the way at a bar and trying your first Guiness.
4. Guiness (at least I’m told when poured badly) has an aftertaste like blood.
5. As it turns out, PETA is now running the Shennandoah National Campground horsetrails.
6. And yes, that crazy old coot will actually bring out the scale and have you stand on it to see if you are 235lbs or less FULLY CLOTHED.
7. Nothing makes Big Girl want to eat (or drink) like a little humilation.
8. Aunt Sharon gave us the WORLD’S BEST WATERPROOF tent for our wedding!  YAY for mountain-folk!
9. You can still have fun camping when it’s raining, but as it turns out rain on your tent “roof” sounds more like an ambush than something spa-like.
10. Bear poop is HUGE.
11. Blue Moon with an orange is the most deliciousness EVER.  I <3 it.
12. My husband knows me well, and sees me better than I see myself.  I know I mentioned this in yesterday’s post but it’s still true.  Not a day goes by when I’m not thanful for him.
13. Sometimes you just need to turn to your boss, tears in your eyes, and admit that if your schedule stays as crazy as it is you will simply not be able to keep up.  And you need to realize that that is ok to admit.
14. My sister and brother in law are what relaxes me.  I don’t know how to explain it, but it’s as if their presence centers me.
15. They also happen to be very decorator savvy.  I had no idea how cute my front porch could be unti they got their hands on it.
16. As it turns out, one of my favorite places now is my front porch with some good friends, family and beer (apparently LOTS of beer if you saw our trashcan).
17. Finding out you are still over 600 hours over “fully billable” after already having one meeting removed from your calendar is not nearly as glamorous as it sounds and causes you to refer to #13 above.
18. “Sweet little Allie” will in fact bold face lie to the guy, IN THE FACE, who asks if she knows the way to the White House tour when threatened with bodily injury to keep it a secret from SK and Trey by her husband.
19. Karma is also a b*tch and said guy and his wife (who you tried to apologize to) end up following you around every tourist attration in greater DC, giving you the skank eye all the way.
20. Beer is good-especially on my front porch-did I mention that?
21. Having your husband come onsite with you to a meeting is nice in theory, but as it turns out I snap right into work mode. 
22. That state right over the bridge?  Yea, still don’t like it.  Even if it is only 7 mins from my front door. 
23. A reception at the Congressional Visitors Center, while it sounds glamourous, is really a logistical nightmare and much sexier in theory than practice.  Add rain to that and you end up with one wet planner.
24. Apparently it takes house guests to get us to finish our house….but boy is it getting cute!
25. You never know just HOW much like your mother you are until you see her for the first time in 7 months.
26. It’s worse than originally thought-I’m actually a combination of BOTH of my parents!!!  RUN FOR IT!
27. There’s something special about cooking your parents dinner on their 35th wedding anniversary with your husband at your new house.   Makes you wish you were closer to family.
28. My parents still leave me money in random places when they visit.  $20 bucks in the fruit bowl-score!  Somehow it never ceases to make me smile.
29. You never realize how old you are until you go to dinner and a movie with friends at the Tysons mall for an 11:20pm showing and are in the food court.  Oh.My.Gosh. 
30. I am blessed with some amazing friends and family.  But you already knew that didn’t you?

So I’ve survived the month.  Crazy as it was, I wouldn’t change it for the world.

Last night when the boy got here he was in less than a stellar mood.  He reconginzed it and we both tried to get him out of said mood so we could have  fun night.  At one point rather early on he asked me if “I was in work mode”.  My initial reaction was absultely not–I was releaxed, why would I be in work mode?

Of course, by that evening I realized how wrong I was.  Actually it wasn’t so much that night as 4:30 this morning when I work up thinking about space grids and where the press room was going to go and and and.

This morning I woke up early (I had to be at work downstairs after all), looked at my husband and felt a little dissapointed.  I passed out the night before somewhere around 10pm.  I remember him watching ESPN –must’ve passed out shortly thereafter. 

I have come to realize that I am the type of person who thinks ahead.  This can be a good thing, and it certainly isn’t a surprise to anyone who knows me.  But the catch is when you can’t turn it off.  I have been known to not be able to enjoy a Sunday afternoon b/c I’m constantly thinking about what I have to do Monday morning, or when we had just finished a fun weekend of camping and the drive home I’m plotting out the cleanup. 

The fact is, sometimes thinking ahead means you miss the present. 

So that’s not terribly profound I realize.  The question is-how do you turn it off?

This evening I was able to, for 80 sweet minuets.  I finally was able to use the spa certificate that was giving to me in March and oh was it sweet.  I’m not sure if I was asleep or in some freakish zen mode, but whatever is I want more.  Now, the quesiton is how to get one iota of that in your regular life b/c I certainly can’t afford THAT every week!

Obviously this is a rambling sort of blog tonight.  Such are my thoughts I suppose.   But it’s either this or one blog a week